MONROE - As a 4-year-old Monroe Rebel soccer player, Monroe sophomore Alexa Bader recalls playing the forward position.
Her speed and experience paid off as she scored two goals to propel the Cheesemakers to a 3-0 nonconference win over Jefferson at T.R. Holyoke Field Thursday.
"I'm surprised with how well we played because we didn't have practice yesterday," Bader said. "We really wanted it. The whole team wanted to win it. That (forward) is the spot I have been playing since I was 4. I like it because I can get out in front of people. If we have two or three people out in front we can get a cross and usually score. I couldn't have done that without my teammates. There is a lot of teamwork that goes into getting that."
It marks the second shutout this year for the Cheesemakers (3-2, 0-2 Badger South). Monroe goalkeeper Reily Pond had seven saves.
Bader scored her first goal on a shot low and hard to the far post on an assist from senior Olivia Werth at 4 minutes, 43 seconds. The Cheesemakers led the Eagles 1-0 at the half.
Bader scored her second goal on another low lining shot to the far post on assists from seniors Brynn Ritschard and Kennedy Ludwig to give Monroe a 2-0 lead at 56:49.
"Alexa is a natural goal scorer," Monroe coach Kyle Katsen said. "That is where she thrives. She has that tenacity and she just loves to be the first one to the ball to put it in the back of the net. It's not just all one person. It takes 11 working as a team. She created a lot of dangerous plays and crosses to try to set up teammates."
Ludwig returned from a leg injury to play in the game and showed no ill-effects from a slide tackle where she was injured in the home opener April 9 at Honey Creek Park. She scored a goal on a pass from freshman Maddison Markham at 66:09 to seal the victory. Kasten was excited to see the Cheesemakers' defense pitch its second shutout of the season.
"I think it was a lot of teamwork together not only by Reily and the defenders, but the midfielders coming back and filling spaces," Kasten said. "I think we have done a better job of taking what we have practiced and producing. It's a culmination of what we have been practicing and sticking to the plan. It wasn't perfect and we have a lot of tough games coming up, but it was better."
Pond has filled in as the starting goalie for junior Anna Latimer, who suffered a knee injury. Kasten said Latimer recently had an MRI and is awaiting the results.
Kasten is anxious to see how Ludwig is doing after her return. She came in off the bench and he wants to play it safe with Ludwig.
"I just want to make sure she stays healthy for the stretch of the season," Kasten said. "I anticipate she will take care of her body. It's hard because it's her senior year and she doesn't want to come off the field and wants the team to be successful. She wants to do what is best for the team."
Monroe will play at Sugar River, ranked No. 7 in the Division 3 Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association state poll, Tuesday in Belleville. It will mark the third ranked team the Cheesemakers have played this year. Oregon, ranked No. 5 in Division 2, rolled to a 9-1 win over Monroe April 9 and Madison Edgewood, ranked No. 5 in Division 3, edged the Cheesemakers 2-0 April 12.
Her speed and experience paid off as she scored two goals to propel the Cheesemakers to a 3-0 nonconference win over Jefferson at T.R. Holyoke Field Thursday.
"I'm surprised with how well we played because we didn't have practice yesterday," Bader said. "We really wanted it. The whole team wanted to win it. That (forward) is the spot I have been playing since I was 4. I like it because I can get out in front of people. If we have two or three people out in front we can get a cross and usually score. I couldn't have done that without my teammates. There is a lot of teamwork that goes into getting that."
It marks the second shutout this year for the Cheesemakers (3-2, 0-2 Badger South). Monroe goalkeeper Reily Pond had seven saves.
Bader scored her first goal on a shot low and hard to the far post on an assist from senior Olivia Werth at 4 minutes, 43 seconds. The Cheesemakers led the Eagles 1-0 at the half.
Bader scored her second goal on another low lining shot to the far post on assists from seniors Brynn Ritschard and Kennedy Ludwig to give Monroe a 2-0 lead at 56:49.
"Alexa is a natural goal scorer," Monroe coach Kyle Katsen said. "That is where she thrives. She has that tenacity and she just loves to be the first one to the ball to put it in the back of the net. It's not just all one person. It takes 11 working as a team. She created a lot of dangerous plays and crosses to try to set up teammates."
Ludwig returned from a leg injury to play in the game and showed no ill-effects from a slide tackle where she was injured in the home opener April 9 at Honey Creek Park. She scored a goal on a pass from freshman Maddison Markham at 66:09 to seal the victory. Kasten was excited to see the Cheesemakers' defense pitch its second shutout of the season.
"I think it was a lot of teamwork together not only by Reily and the defenders, but the midfielders coming back and filling spaces," Kasten said. "I think we have done a better job of taking what we have practiced and producing. It's a culmination of what we have been practicing and sticking to the plan. It wasn't perfect and we have a lot of tough games coming up, but it was better."
Pond has filled in as the starting goalie for junior Anna Latimer, who suffered a knee injury. Kasten said Latimer recently had an MRI and is awaiting the results.
Kasten is anxious to see how Ludwig is doing after her return. She came in off the bench and he wants to play it safe with Ludwig.
"I just want to make sure she stays healthy for the stretch of the season," Kasten said. "I anticipate she will take care of her body. It's hard because it's her senior year and she doesn't want to come off the field and wants the team to be successful. She wants to do what is best for the team."
Monroe will play at Sugar River, ranked No. 7 in the Division 3 Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association state poll, Tuesday in Belleville. It will mark the third ranked team the Cheesemakers have played this year. Oregon, ranked No. 5 in Division 2, rolled to a 9-1 win over Monroe April 9 and Madison Edgewood, ranked No. 5 in Division 3, edged the Cheesemakers 2-0 April 12.
